If you are seeing this message in a Single PRODUCT PAGE - DO NOT WORRY! This message will disappear once your site is published

If you are NOT in a Single Product Page, please DO NOT USE the INDEX page layout. Please go to "page" and select to use any other page layouts

**This message will disappear once your site is published**

All the trekkers were met at the airport by myself and Terrance and taken to the Holiday Inn by their polite staff and comfortable bus. Only one small problem slowed us down , a local bloke got himself run-over by the bus in front of us.

What caused all the trouble was the Australian Rugby League Team had arrived on the same flight as most of the trekkers and this caused the entire population of Port Moresby to be waiting outside the terminal to see their hero’s. Because we were all staying at the Holiday Inn as well, we got escorted to our buses with lots of fuss by security staff and tried to leave as a group. I now know what it’s like to be a celebrity. First the bus with the players moved off, then the bus with all the baggage and then our bus (they thought we were training staff or strappers or something). Did I mention that we were surrounded by about 5000 plus people.

Anyway a young local tried to jump up on the back bumper of the team bus, couldn't hang on to anything and fell off where he was quickly run over by the second bus carrying the bags. Our driver did a fantastic job of driving over the kerb to avoid the body and we were at the hotel quicker than you can say “See you in court for horrendous compensation pay-out”.

But everything was great after that. Dinner was great, I gave my tour and history brief. Lots of questions were answered and everyone was happy. The flight the next day was good with clear weather, lots of photos. Mary met us at Pop airport with a good truck and porters to help us and off we went to Kokoda. We had a few stops for shops, war memorials, fuel and a flat tyre. No one got run over, but everyone thought it was good. Lots of photos.

Had a good chat at Kokoda about the first battles, museum and memorials. Had lunch, filled water bottles and then off we went. (did I mention ; lots of photos).

All the blokes got on great together and the tougher it got, the funnier the jokes and “one liners” got. By the time we got to Deniki we realized how busy the next 7 days were going to be, we had one group in front of us and and two behind. We also passed three groups going the other way.The holiday season was “on” and the track was crowded, but our two senior porters, Walter and Lexn, always managed to find us a good camp site every night.

Some of the blokes had a look at the Jap KI-51 plane crash and said it was worth the effort to climb up and see (local wanted 10 kina, but talked him down to 5 kina). Isuravia was fine, but the locals couldn't find the key to the local war museum and missed out on a few Kina in fees. Lots of photos at the memorial of course. The rain started but nothing serious. Alola was fine and we stayed at “old mama’s top camp” and she let us in her war museum for half price, she still has that same great one tooth smile.

Eora creek battle site (still only 5 Kina) was a big hit with the blokes and we had a good chat about what happened there. None of the other many groups going in either direction stopped for a look (shame shame shame). A little bit more rain, more mud and hard yaka, but great swim at Dump 1.

Myola Lakes were good and the blokes were impressed with the Bomber crash, Bomb dump and Drop zone. We got the 5 kina discount again for the lot, but again few other groups stopped for a look. We were starting to wonder if any of these other groups did anything other than walk and look at trees. I even met a group with a Kiwi (N.Z.) guide who were very happy with him, because he told them all the “secret stuff” that I didn’t know about, including how the Kiwi’s “saved us at the Imita ridge battle”. (who hires guides like this ???). Any way , apart from me taking a “high degree of difficulty” fall into a creek (set a new points record), everything else was fine.

The singing at Kagi was a bit below average (because most of the kids were away at a singing competition) but the blokes loved it and the flowers. Lots of photos.

Did Mission ridge the next day (very hard yakka) and had long rest, good lunch and long chat on Brigade Hill. The graves were all marked by locals and the blokes were impressed. The usual long walk down to Menari and then the camp water system stopped and had no showers (bugger ! ).

Did a long next day (just for something different) and stayed at Ofi creek. Good swim but noisy roster in the next morning. Another good swim at Ule creek and again at Goldie river. All the blokes were loving it.

Finally we got to the beer and hot dogs, Bomana and the war museum in town. A few laughs, a few tears and lots of great memories!

Did I mention; lots of photos.

At the dinner, speeches were made, awards and tips were given, and everyone went home happy and safe.